DELEGATES to the 17th International Festival of Youth and Students, which ended in Pretoria on Tuesday, passed a resolution calling for the “immediate lifting of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe”.
At least 15,000 youths from more than 140 countries gathered in South Africa for the annual athering lasting nine days which was addressed by President Jacob Zuma and ANC Youth League President Julius Malema.
A declaration circulated by the ANC Youth League at the close of the festival on Tuesday railed against western bodies such as NATO, the European Union, the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation which were accused of “imperial tendencies”.
On Zimbabwe, the delegates declared: “We further make a clarion call for the immediate lifting of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe that have continued to cause untold pain and suffering on their people which are also a catalyst for their regime change agenda in Zimbabwe.
“We are in solidarity with the revolutionaries in Africa, and urge them be steadfast against imperial tendencies.
“We welcome the second phase of the African people’s struggle, the struggle for economic independence through indigenisation, nationalisation or any other form of empowerment to its people.”
The United States and the European Union which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2001 and 2002 respectively insist the controversial embargo only targets President Robert Mugabe and his supporters implicated in alleged electoral theft and human rights abuses.
The sanctions include a travel ban on Mugabe and over a hundred of his associates, an asset freeze as well as controversial trade measures targeting state-owned companies. In the case of the United States, the sanctions regime directs US officials on the boards of international financial institutions like the IMF and the World Bank to veto any loans and debt reduction to the government of Zimbabwe.
Malema on Tuesday declared the festival a success “despite the imperialist media's attempt to derail it.”
He said the media tried to make big issues of "trivial matters" like a lack of food at the festival. He then blamed capitalists for the problem saying they would not give money to properly feed the delegates.
He thanked Zuma and the Lotto for their R69 million contribution. Opposition parties have criticised the donation, calling for an audit.